Community Development

The Richland County Office of Community Development (RCCD) was created in 2002 to administer the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and the HOME Investment Grant (HOME) funds. These funds come from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds primarily benefit the low and moderate income (LMI) population (neighborhoods) of the unincorporated areas of Richland County. (Low and moderate income population is defined as family household income 80% or below of the median area income). Click HUD Income Guidelines for more information. Click for a quick fact sheet highlighting the department’s most recent Annual Accomplishments.

In seven years, the RCCD grew to administer up to 7 federal grants totaling over $5 million. With these funds, the office provides affordable housing programs such as housing rehabilitation, emergency housing repair, down payment/closing costs assistance, public improvements, and neighborhood revitalization program. New funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or Stimulus Dollars were received by RCCD, intended to provide a surge to the economy in the wake of the economic downturn. RCCD will receive stimulus funds to help agencies that will help homeless and those at risk; entities that will assist with stabilizing neighborhoods seeing the effects of foreclosure and abandoned homes; and build streets as well as job creation. To see more on the RCCD stimulus funds, click on the Stimulus Projects tab.

Richland County’s HOME and CDBG allocation funds projects only in the unincorporated areas of the County. Incorporated towns and cities (Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes, Town of Blythewood, Town of Irmo, and the Town of Eastover), may be eligible to receive similar funds from the State of South Carolina Community Development Block Grant Program. Residents living in the city of Columbia must contact the City of Columbia’s Community Development Office at (803) 545-3373.

The Richland Community Development Office is committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens. Our mission is: We transform lives in partnership with the Richland County Community through housing, education and revitalization to make a difference one household at a time. Our Logo is, “We Can Upgrade U” by assisting our county residents with:

Homeowner Assistance

Financial Empowerment

Neighborhood Revitalization

Thank you for allowing us to ‘Upgrade U’ and provide an array of services to you, our public!

Below are direct links to our various programs within the Community Development Department:

Notices and Solicitations

To All Interested Agencies, Groups and Persons interested in the Community Development Block Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for single family housing and small rental rehabilitation (county-wide review), Please click here.

To All Interested Agencies, Groups and Persons interested in the Shakespeare Crossing Project, please click here.

Public Notice (New)

To All Interested Agencies, Groups and Persons interested in the 2017-2022 Five Year Consolidated Plan, please click here (see attachment).

New: Effective 12/12/17, The County encourages your attendance at the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) Public Hearing, please click here for the public notice.